Galen "Gene" Nelson

Funeral services for Galen E. "Gene" Nelson will be held on Friday, March 10, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Kenton Birtell officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege following the services.

Galen Eugene "Gene" Nelson, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Gene was born April 6, 1930 at McCook, Nebraska, the youngest of four sons born to Ernest Clair and Inez Lorrine (Meadows) Nelson. Gene began his primary education in a rural school in Red Willow County, and then fifth and sixth grades in Sutton, Nebraska. The family then moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where Gene attended Hastings Public Schools, graduating from Hastings High School with the class of 1947. He then pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he participated in ROTC.

Following his education, Gene began a long career in the grocery business. His first job was for Jack and Jill in Hastings until moving to Denver, Colorado, where he was employed by Furr's Safeway. Gene also drove a bread truck for a short time prior to returning to Nebraska.

On October 14, 1952, he was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Block, and to this union one son, Bruce Eugene was born. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Gene continued his life's work for the Safeway Store as a meat cutter and store manager from 1972 until 1982. Gene then purchased the Wilcox IGA in Wilcox, Nebraska, which he operated until 1989. He was then employed by Nelson Furniture Store in Holdrege until 1997. In retirement years, he enjoyed working part-time at the Holdrege Library.

Gene was a past member of the Holdrege Optimist Club, and was active with the Friends of the Library. He was an avid Nebraska and Denver Broncos football fan, he loved tending to his yard and garden, and was a talented wood worker who enjoyed sharing many of his crafts with family and friends.

Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Nelson in 1994, great-grandson, Alex Ben Christensen; and three brothers: Perry Lee Nelson at six months of age, Dale Nelson while serving in the United States Navy when he was 18 years old, and Luwane Nelson; and sister-in-law, Judy Holt.

Gene leaves to celebrate his life; his wife of 64 years, Bev Nelson of Holdrege; one granddaughter, Stacie Christensen and her husband, Tyler of Las Vegas, Nevada; one grandson, Travis Nelson and his wife, Sarah of Palisade, Nebraska; granddaughter-in-law, Kazia Nelson of Holdrege; seven great-grandchildren: Anthony, Kaeli, and Andrew Nelson, Eli, Isaac, and Jace Christensen, and Zander Nelson; daughter-in-law, Sheryl McClymont and her husband, Reed of Holdrege; sister-in-law, Avalon Nelson of Juniata, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Paul Holt of Kearney, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Gene's honor and kindly suggested to the Holdrege Fire Department – Scholarship Fund, c/o of the Phelps County Community Foundation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.